Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 18
Monday


ANOTHER
CHANCE

READ:
Philemon 1:8-19
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[You] have put on the
new man who is
renewed in knowledge
according to the image
of Him who created
him. __Colossians 3:10
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For almost 100 years, a huge piece of flawed Carrara marble lay in the courtyard of a cathedral in Florence, Italy. Then, in 1501, a young sculptor was asked to do something with it. He measured the block and noted its imperfections. In his mind, he envisioned a young shepherd boy.

For 3 years, he chiseled and shaped the marble skillfully. Finally, when the 18-foot towering figure of David was unveiled, his student exclaimed to Michelangelo, "Master, it lacks only one thing__speech!"

Onesimus was like that flawed marble. He was an unfaithful servant when he fled from his master Philemon. But while on the run he came to know the Master Sculptor. As a changed man, he served God faithfully and was invaluable to Paul's ministry. When Paul sent him back to Philemon, he commended him as one "who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me" (1:11). He asked Philemon to recieve Onesimus back as a brother (v.16).

Paul knew what it meant to be given another chance after past wrongs (Acts 9:26-28). He knew personally the transformation God can accomplish. Now he saw it in the life of Onesimus. The Lord can chisel His image on our flawed lives and make us beautiful and useful too. __Albert Lee
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```````````````Christ takes each sin, each pain, each loss.``````````
``````````````````````And by the power of His cross``````````````
``````````````````Transforms our brokenness and shame``````````
```````````````So that our lives exalt His nave. __D. De Haan```````
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Our rough edges must be chipped away
to bring out the image of Christ.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Philemon 1:8--19*********

8 Therefore, though I
might be very bold in Christ
to command you what is
fitting. 9 Yet for love's sake
I rather appeal to you__
being such a one as Paul,
the aged, and now also a
prisoner of Jesus Christ__

10 I appeal to you for my
son Onesimus, whom I
have begotten while in my
chains, 11 who once was
unprofitable to you and
to me.

12 I am sending him back.
You therefore receive him,
that is, my own heart,

13 whom I wished to keep
with me, that on your
behalf he might minister to
me in my chains for the
gospel. 14 But without your
consent I wanted to do
nothing, that your good
deed might not be by
compulsion, as it were, but
voluntary. 15 For perhaps he
departed for a while for this
purpose, that you might
receive him forever, 16 no
longer as a slave but more
than a slave__a beloved
brother, especially to me
but how much more to you,
both in the flesh and in the
Lord.

17 If then you count me as
a partner, receive him as
you would me. 18 But if he
has wronged you or owes
anything, put that on my
account. 19 I, Paul, am
writing with my own hand,
I will repay__not to
mention to you that you
owe me even your own self
besides.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

God has predestined believers to be conformed to the image of His
Son (Rom. 8:29). In the future, believers will finally realize their
full status as a new race of redeemed human beings, endowed with
glorified bodies living eternally in Jesus' presence (Rev. 22:1-21). The
believer has an eternal destiny because of Christ. __Dennis Fisher